ISP Shopping Guide

What to look for in an ISP

So you are not happy with your current internet provider or you may even be purchasing internet service for the first time. There are many options to choose from and many factors to consider. This page will take you through the steps you need to consider before purchasing internet service.

Step 1: Setting your budget

How much do you want to spend on your internet service provider? Dialup internet will be your cheapest option and the sky is the limit on how much you can spend on an ISP.

Step 2: Checking availability

What kinds of service are available in your area? If you live in a city, you will have a wide variety of options.

Rural towns and country homes tend to have fewer choices as many Cable and DSL ISPs have not invested to upgrade their infrastructures in sparsely populated areas.

BasicISP now provides DSL internet connections in many areas. Our simple wizard makes it easy for you to check for DSL service for your location.

Step 3: Decide on your connection type

What kind of internet will you be using? Do you want high bandwidth or low cost? Here are the main options in general order of cost:

Dialup

DSL

Cable

Wireless (cell phone cards)

Satellite

Step 4: How good is your ISP's Support?

What kind of support does your company offer? Will you be charged by the minute, by the phone call, or is it free? Will you be talking with someone in the United States or do they outsource their call centers to countries like Costa Rica and India? How long will you be on hold if you have a problem? Your ISP should be staffed well enough to avoid long hold times. Before signing up, be sure to check into this information.

Step 5: How many add-ons do you want?

Buying internet service can be like purchasing a car. Sometimes the real price is hidden by all the extras they throw your way. What are some of the extras that ISPs will try to sell you?

Web Hosting

Connection Software

Extra e-mail addresses

Typically the free webhosting is only enough for a few megabytes of data. Services like Blogger, Wordpress, MySpace, and more usually offer more space and better usability.

The connection software usually only saves a click or two and will be another program to install, possibly slowing down your computer.

Receiving 5 e-mail addresses with your ISP does not do much good if you only use 1 or 2. If you use a work e-mail, Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail, then receiving extra e-mails with your service is an add-on you do not need.

Conclusion:

Only you can decide what is right for you. Do your research and make a decision that will fit your budget and leave you satisfied.

If you are interested in Dialup internet from BasicISP, click here to sign up or feel free to explore the rest of the site!